This term, we learned about DNA. We looked at its shape and how it has genetic importance. We saw how DNA copies itself and helps make us look the way we do. It’s interesting how DNA affects looks and how important it is.
(Also, just for your information: When a word is bold, they are linked to the next paragraph.)
DNA is the stuff inside our cells that carries our genetic information. It has a twisted ladder shape. These parts pair up to form codes that build things like your looks and traits. When cells split, DNA makes copies so that new cells have the same information. Basically, DNA controls how your genes look.
Genes are segments of DNA that determine how our bodies work and what we look like. They affect things like hair colour and height. You inherit your genes from your parents, which is why you might resemble them. Each gene has a unique code that influences your traits. In short, genes are a big part of what makes you, you!
Inheriting DNA usually means you get DNA/genes from your mom and dad. Inherited DNA has genes that decide things like hair colour and height, and these genes can have different versions called alleles. Each parent gives different alleles, so kids can look like either one. That’s why siblings might look alike or different!
Alleles are different versions of an exact gene. As said above, both parents give different alleles. A common example given is when eye colour is given to a child. One can have very bright blue eyes, while the other can have very dark brown eyes. A very common way to tell if someone has a specific allele of one gene is by using a Punnett square.
A Punnett square is a tool used to see how traits might be inherited from parents to a baby. It looks like a simple grid where you write down the alleles from each parent. You then fill in the squares to show the possible combinations of genes the children could get. This helps you see the chances of traits, like eye colour, showing up in a baby. It’s a way to understand genetics straightforwardly!
DNA put into Action.
(When a word is bold, they are connected to the next paragraph)
Natural selection is how nature picks which traits are best for survival in a species. Animals and plants with traits that help them survive tend to live longer and have more babies, passing those traits on. Over time, these helpful traits become more common in the group. It all comes down to small differences among individuals, such as some being faster or better at finding food. Or a species reproduction. In the end, natural selection helps species adapt to their environment and can even lead to new species over time.
Reproduction is how living things make babies. There are two main types: sexual reproduction, which involves two parents, and asexual reproduction, where one parent makes a copy of itself. In sexual reproduction, the baby gets traits from both parents, while in asexual reproduction, the baby looks exactly like the parent. This process helps the animal survive and adapt because it creates variety among the babies. Over time, these changes can lead to evolution.
Evolution is the process by which living things change over time. It happens when small differences in traits help animals and plants survive better in their environment. For example, if faster animals escape predators more easily, their speed will become more common in future generations. This happens through natural selection, where the best traits get passed on. Over a long time, these changes can lead to the development of new species.
